I should really start reading more synopsis because I almost never know what I’m getting into and I choose books mostly by author, title, and cover 🤣!

Once again I would say there are big triggers for postpartum, birth, ect ect ect. I don’t want to give away any parts of the story and although I didn’t find anything personally triggering somebody might.

I was definitely interested in this story but I feel like maybe the plot was little all over the place and I saw someone describe it at “clunky” and I agree.

I despised the husbands character LITERALLY from the first page and it probably could have been told all from the wife’s pov.

I feel like the speed was quite slow but then a certain part of the story would be written so well and I’d be drawn in again! So I kept getting reinvested and wanted to know what was gonna happen.

I'm not a huge fan of horror that plays on the psyche of pregnant women. I think the premise of the cover artist finding the inspiration for the book was neat, but I wish it would have went more on that direction and less on the pregnancy/motherhood direction.

Haunted house novels are hard. They just are. But this isn't necessarily a haunted house novel. Our girl's clueless husband buys a house without consulting her and it turns out she was only sketching it because it was so creepy. So they move in during her high risk miracle pregnancy (I would never) and the house is unsurprisingly creepy. Why not do some renovations and make it not creepy first? People are loving this one but to me it was not what I expected. I will probably buy the audiobook though.

Well that was...unexpected.

Artist, Emily Lawrence, is contacted by her favourite horror novelist and given the chance of a lifetime, the chance to design a cover for his newest novel. Of course he hasn't written the book yet, and thus he also enlists Emily to find the spooky muse for his first and great southern gothic novel, and boy does she find it. Past the posh Savannah homes, keeping guard over a rotting swamp, is the Leeds House. A house whose imposing figure reaches out to embrace... or ensnare... all those who enter.

And ensnare it does, thanks to the help of Emily's clueless (well meaning?) husband, who mistakenly believes he is buying his wife's dream house. Miles seems to be the mold for the typical, socially inept, tech bro who thinks everything dealing with emotions is scary and should be avoided at all costs. Though, confusingly, he also sometimes presents the very contrasting behaviors of thoughtfulness and toxic masculinity. It made it very hard to pin down his character, especially since the book is told in alternating POVs of Emily and Miles, and Miles' thoughts do show care towards Emily and his family. So is he socially inept, loving but clueless, or secretly malicious, I can't really say.

Now onto my thoughts! I enjoyed the book. I think the author's strongest point is the atmosphere she creates. The description of Emily's first meeting with house was vivid and I could picture and feel the pull that Emily must have felt. I immediately felt the house was a living organism and it created this claustrophobic, crushing atmosphere as Emily transverses the house. I also thought the author touched on the theme of motherhood and the intense scrutiny and guilt associated with new motherhood amazingly. I personally enjoy horror books that have a deeper theme running behind it. I mean that's why I finally started reading horror after 20 something years of avoiding it like the plague, because I finally realized that horror can be insightful as well as scary.

That's why I was a little sad that the themes I thought the author was going after didn't really solidify in the end, which is my only criticism of the book. Of course I can't read the author's mind but it seemed that she was using the themes of motherhood, toxic masculinity, and at the very beginning it seemed like the conversation between Emily and Coop was setting up some kind of discussion on Southern trauma, manifested through the swamp/house. However, these topics seemed to disappear in the last few pages and instead just went for shocking, and I was shocked. In fact, I choose to believe that the epilogue doesn't exist and that's how I'll sleep tonight.

My final thoughts, this was definitely a fun and captivating read. I can honestly say the ending left me flabbergasted even though I wasn't fully satisfied by how it tied up the story. I am very interested to read this author's other works because, I must say, she has some interesting titles in her body of works, and they sound right up my alley. It was an enjoyable start to the 2024 "Spooky Season" so I must thank RDS Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

This was an alright book, mostly. It was difficult for me to read because of certain triggers. I honestly wish I would have looked into it more before reading. As a mom who has had several losses during pregnancy, reading about an extremely high risk pregnancy was not fun. I won't give spoilers, but certain events in this book. I would've rather skipped. Good premise, but I just was not ready for it.

Thank you to the author EV Knight, publishers Raw Dog Screaming Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE HOUSE ON THE COVER OF A HORROR NOVEL. All views are mine.

"...She’d owned it for, oh, I don’t know, maybe fifty years? But she hadn’t lived in it for a while. Just paid someone to come care for the yard and keep a fresh coat of paint on it.” “That’s sad,” Emily said. “This beautiful place with no one inside to care about it?” p19

This book didn't score very high in the ratings systems, but I honestly think it deserves a higher score. It's not really scary in the haunted house sense, but there is a great deal of friction resulting from the main characters' relationship and interpretations of their share as experiences. The writing is empathetic of the characters and readers, and the main conflict is compelling because of it. The Shape of the plot / primary conflict gets fuzzy at times, but I was invested and excited to read to the end.

This book does a lot of the small things right, too, like natural-sounding dialogue, distinction between POVs, and solid pacing.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of house horror and domestic thrillers, as this is the perfect blend of these genre, and family drama stories, pregnancy horror, and emotional endings.

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. That little bit about the cattleprod and the earthworms? Completely genius horror.

2. I love how exact this book gets about gynecological science.

3. I loved the resolution to the main conflict. It could disappoint some readers though.

4. A very interesting look at abuse in marriages. He's sweet and he never knows what he does that makes her so mad. But from her side, he's controlling and uses his affection toward those ends, and he does know how his behavior is wrong because she tells him. It makes for dynamics way more terrifying than the house they moved into!

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This story isn't complex enough to justify the use of multiple POVs. Miles's sections don't offer much insight into the story. His character details could be transmitted from Emily's perspective.

2. I feel bad for Emily, but there isn't enough depth for me to connect with and care about her or her whiny husband.

3. Not a fan of mom magic and superhero-mom tropes. But she might be using these tropes in a metafiction sense, where she is judging these tropes through her story. But I don't think so. I think she reserved these energies to expose the motivations of her characters.

4. The plot is everywhere. It might be more accurate to say there is no plot, and the story flails around, looking for meaning.

Rating: 🏚🏚🏚.5 /5 haunted houses
Recommend? Yep
Finished: Sep 21 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🏚 haunted house stories
👻 ghost stories
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
🫃 pregnancy horror
🏡 domestic abuse stories

"The house needed melancholy. And she's feeding it.
Stuck in a vicious cycle of depression, radiating out of her, bouncing off the walls and right back in. Would she ever feel better? "

Southern gothic inspired. A dual timeline piece weaving the past and present together. A story about two mothers who went mad, haunted by the evil encroaching upon them from the swamp. It is later discovered that the swamp has poisoned the land the home was built on and it ultimately affected the families that tries to live there.


Part haunted house story and a psychological look at motherhood. Two povs told from wife and husband. Ending was tragic and devastating. Reminds me a bit of 'The woman in black'.

I got annoyed by the lack of communication, constant bickering, secrecy, immaturity and gaslighting. Tension, stress and paranoia are palpable. Only few spooky elements and the constant husband-blaming and cursing got repetitive. I believe the husband really meant well from the start and just wanted to make his wife happy but things just kept on getting shitty for them.
The premise of the book is intriguing but it just didn't deliver much.



Arc from netgalley 🏚️

Thank you so much for an advance copy. Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy this book. The miscommunication, not talking to each other about stuff, and just all around nonsense... it wasn't horror for me

Absolutely loved this book! From the beginning all the way through the creepy content stayed consistent and was such a page turner. So far, I have recommended this book to so many people for spooky season! This is a great book regarding paranormal activity, it's so believable and makes you want more! The ending was very sad however it made the most sense. Will continue to tell my friends how much they need to read this.

Very cool idea/storyline- but this one just about misses the mark for me. Needs just a few tweaks in the horror department to get where it wants to go, however I can see the vision overall. The characters don't feel fully fleshed out and the plot seems to be missing some key details.

Thanks to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for an eARC copy of The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel by EV Knight.

I was drawn to this by the title, who else has been curious when a real house is used for a cover of a horror novel? To make that question into a novel was a wonderful idea and it got me excited to read it. I needed to know. Turns out, this is one of the best haunted house books I've read in quiet some time as EV Knight does a wonderful job detailing the house and giving the setting it's psychological horror dues. EV Knight also does such a great job touching on postpartum depression, which can be a heavy subject and the way it is written into the story flawlessly makes the growing fear that much more real. It is certainly a book you are not going to want to put down.

When artist Emily gets contacted by THE big horror author, she feels as though this job could change her life. Little does she know that the house, and what's growing inside her, might have plans that differ from her dreams.

The book offers different POVs of the situation, but ultimately, leaves quite a bit of desire for me. This story brought up many different feelings, such as claustrophobia and anxiety, but I was so frustrated with the lack of communication between Emily and Miles.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

EV Knight’s The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel is everything a horror fan could wish for—creepy, atmospheric, and absolutely gripping from start to finish. Knight masterfully blends classic horror tropes with fresh twists, creating a haunting tale that feels eerily familiar yet utterly original.

The story centers around a mysterious house that seems to leap off the pages of a horror novel, pulling both the characters and the reader into its dark, twisted history. The pacing is impeccable, and the tension builds with every chapter, leaving you on edge until the final, mind-bending twist. Knight's descriptive writing brings the house and its horrors to life in terrifying detail, making you feel as though you’re wandering its cursed halls yourself.

What really sets this book apart is its characters—realistic, flawed, and entirely relatable. Their descent into the house’s mysteries mirrors our own, and by the end, you feel every chill, every shock, and every emotional blow.

If you're a fan of haunted houses, psychological terror, and beautifully written horror, The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel is a must-read. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page—and might make you think twice before picking up another horror novel!

Okay, I'm taking off one star because I disliked the characters so much, but I loved this horror novel, and it is a horror. This is one of the bleakest and most depressing novels I've read in a while. The biggest problem is the couple who move into the house: the husband buys a house without telling his heavily pregnant wife, and she is the one who originally suffers the most because of the haunting. That was just the first clue about how awful the husband was -- he couldn't even remember to call the baby by the right name.
It was creepy enough in the beginning when some old-fashioned toys kept showing up, but then Emily got locked in the nursery while Miles was out and had a traumatic birth. This was horrible and graphic, but then the house hides the baby too. I couldn't put this down. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

EV Knight's The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel starts with a compelling image: a house on fire. Miles, the husband we meet at the flashback opener of the book and later come to hate, is at his wits end and trying anything he can to free himself and his family from the haunted house he made the mistake of purchasing.

Why'd he buy it? He thought his wife, Emily, a cover artist and painter who had been obsessively painting the spooky property for a big Stephen King-level client, wanted it. She'd finally gotten pregnant with their miracle baby and they needed more space and had the money, so he did the scariest thing that happens in the book - he bought a house without consulting his spouse. From there, the conceit of the novel - a haunted house that was supposed to be painted and instead becomes the main character's actual home - begins to fall into line with what we know from the subgenre. Mysterious things start to happen. We, and the characters, learn new information about the house's former inhabitants. And the situation gets precipitously worse.

From start to finish, The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel feels a bit heavy-handed and obvious. Miles, the husband, is almost comically awful. He won't stop gaslighting his wife about a problem that he almost exclusively created. Similarly, Cooper, the author Emily is working with as the setup for the book, is equally problematic. He creates a media circus that only exacerbates the tension at the core of the novel (which I won't spoil) and eggs Miles' bad behavior on. Even a random man that Miles encounters at a bar practically begs him to punish his wife for (over)reacting to the hell-house he's thrust upon her.

All in all, I respect the gender criticism and feminist undertones of this novel, but did not love it as a haunted house story. The ending is rather unsatisfying and there weren't really any creative or interesting reveals, twists, or unexpected turns. It's a beautiful Zillow listing with no surprises that's worth the browse but isn't my dream home.

As a mother, this spoke to me. It was extra creepy and atmospheric. I loved the supernatural elements, and hated that the husband had an explanation for every bump. Overall, this book was perfect for the upcoming season!

I read/watch a lot of paranormal stories so I’m always on the hunt for something that’s really going to surprise or spook me. Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it for those starting out in the horror/paranormal genre, but for me, it didn’t quite scratch the itch. I did enjoy that I couldn’t tell if the house was truly the problem or if it was severe postpartum depression and anxiety. I will say that my dislike for both Emily and Miles made it difficult to finish to book at times. While their lack of communication added to the story, it was extreme to the point of being unbelievable for me.

Thank you NetGalley and RDS Publishing for this ARC!

The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel by EV Knight ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this horror novel (though the ending DEVASTATED me.) You’ll have to read to find out.

Emily is commissioned my author Cooper Yancy to paint the cover of his new horror book. He’s looking to be inspired and Emily has found the perfect eerie home. Her “loving” husband miles finds paintings of the house thinking it’s Emily’s dream home so he decides to buy it. Which is an obvious deadly mistake but the ride to get there was so very fun and spooky.

Perfect for fans of haunted houses.

This was a quick and slightly eerie read. A pregnant artist is hired to create the cover of her favorite author's newest horror novel. She finds the perfect house to use as inspiration, a house that fascinates and terrifies her in equal measure. Thinking that her fascination means she loves the old home, her husband purchases it as a surprise.

After moving in, eerie and unexplained things begin to occur. Is the house truly haunted? Will it allow its newest tenants to live in peace? While this was by no means terrifying, it did have it's moments where it registered on the creep meter.

The imagery of a house often plays a significant role in horror literature, symbolizing both safety and danger. In this ghostly horror story, the house is a character in itself, holding secrets, past traumas, or supernatural elements. Overall, this novel set in Savannah blends psychological suspense with traditional horror elements, creating an atmosphere of dread and intrigue that kept me engaged until the final page. I loved how the ending made it all come together.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.